Sky Sports: Former Aston Villa player Alan Curbishley has reportedly emerged as one of the candidates to take charge at Villa Park. Villa are carrying out interviews this week as they look to name a replacement for Martin O'Neill following the Northern Irishman's shock departure just before the start of the new season.

Daily Telegraph: Graham Taylor has thrown his weight behind Aston Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald as the Midlands club wind up their search for a new manager, the former England and Aston Villa coach suggesting that the Scotsman has just the kind of intimate football knowledge, and support from the players, required to step into Martin O'Neill's shoes.

Express & Star: Alan Curbishley has been interviewed for the Villa vacancy as the race to replace Martin O'Neill hotted up today. The ex-Charlton and West Ham manager, who has jumped to second favourite for the job, met with the claret and blue hierarchy yesterday with the club hoping to name their new boss by the start of next week.

Clubcall.com: Aston Villa have made contact with Sporting Lisbon about bringing in Yannick Djalo and could make a move for the striker in January.
Reports in the Portuguese press indicate that Aston Villa contacted Djao's agent about bringing him to the Premier League but failed to put a deal in place on transfer deadline day.

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BBC: Goalkeeper Scott Carson is released from the England squad to face Bulgaria in the Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday because of a family bereavement.

BBC: Stoke City's new signing Eidur Gudjohnsen has conceded that he lacks match fitness after missing pre-season while looking for a club.

*The extracts on this page are taken from various newspapers and media outlets. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Aston Villa.